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Russia Is 'Forcing' U.S. Military Out of Syria and Testing New Weapons to Help, Reports Say

By Tom O'Connor On 12/17/18 at 5:05 PM

Russia is reportedly challenging the U.S. military presence in Syria by testing new weapons, bolstering defenses and increasing the presence of troops near facilities operated by the Pentagon.

Days after returning from his visit to war-torn Syria, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov detailed to local media Monday the various new weapons systems have been introduced to the conflict. These included the Pantsir S1 anti-aircraft and Iskander-M ballistic missile systems on the ground, Tupolev Tu-160 supersonic strategic bombers, Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers and Tu-95 propeller-driven bombers, as well as Mikoyan MiG-29K fighters and Ka-52K Katran helicopters in the air.

He also specifically praised the Sukhoi Su-35 and Su-30SM fighter jets for exceeding expectations in comments translated by The Moscow Times. Borisov hailed the deployment of upgraded S-300 surface-to-air missile systems in October as well, claiming that U.S.-led coalition airstrikes had been "significantly reduced" in northeastern Syria since then.

Russia sent S-300s to Syria after a deadly international incident involving an Israeli air raid on a suspected Iranian weapons depot in September. Though it was Syrian anti-aircraft fire that accidentally struck Russia's Ilyushin Il-20 surveillance plane during the encounter, killing all 15 on board, both Moscow and Damascus agreed that Israel was to blame, and recent reports suggest that the two may be gearing up to challenge the U.S-led coalition as well.

Russia, Turkey, Iran team up on Syria talks as U.S. weighs pulling troops

By Seth J. Frantzman
December 19, 2018 16:04

Russia's foreign ministry announced that the continued presence of US troops in Syria is an obstacle in the path to peace settlement.

Russia, Turkey and Iran gathered in Geneva on Tuesday to meet UN Syria peace envoy Staffan de Mistura and discuss a new Syrian constitutional committee. They left without agreeing on the details but said they had come through with a “sense of compromise and constructive engagement.”

It is the latest example of how Russia, Turkey and Iran – who all have forces in Syria – have sidelined the US in major discussions about the country’s post-civil war era.

Russia, Turkey, Iran team up on Syria talks as U.S. weighs pulling troops

By Seth J. Frantzman
December 19, 2018 16:04

Russia's foreign ministry announced that the continued presence of US troops in Syria is an obstacle in the path to peace settlement.

Russia, Turkey and Iran gathered in Geneva on Tuesday to meet UN Syria peace envoy Staffan de Mistura and discuss a new Syrian constitutional committee. They left without agreeing on the details but said they had come through with a “sense of compromise and constructive engagement.”

It is the latest example of how Russia, Turkey and Iran – who all have forces in Syria – have sidelined the US in major discussions about the country’s post-civil war era.

The head of the Russian Defense Ministry’s main military police directorate says the country’s military police have operated as a “successful structure” in their Syria mission and built a positive image among civilians in the Arab country.

Lieutenant General Vladimir Ivanovsky made the remarks on Tuesday after a ceremony at Hmeimim Air Base in Syria’s Latakia Province, during which Russian military police officers received awards before returning home.

“According to the assessments of the leadership of the armed forces, local population, observers, the military police, first of all, have established themselves as a successful structure in conditions of these special objectives of humanitarian mission and peacekeeping operations,” he said.

Ivanovsky also noted that the Russian military police have earned a good reputation among Syria’s civilian population and gained considerable experience.

I'm good with that, too. But I'm not giving the Trumpster credit for anything that is happening in Syria. Russia has been calling the shots in Syria since they first started dropping bombs there. For better or worse Russia now owns Syria lock, stock, and barrel.

I'm good with that, too. But I'm not giving the Trumpster credit for anything that is happening in Syria. Russia has been calling the shots in Syria since they first started dropping bombs there. Fore better or worse Russian now owns Syria lock, stock, and barrel.